Shoe-lace holder.



Patented Ma'r. v4, M12. 1

.1. AQLESLIE. SHOE LACE HOLDER.

(Application med Aug. 15, 1901.

(No Model.)

ma NORRIS PETERS cu, PNOTQ-UTHQ, WASHINGTON, 04 c.

UNITED 7 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. LESLIE, OF -WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND.

SHOE-LACE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,653, dated March 4, 1902. A li ation ma August 15,1901. Serial no; 72,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern) Be it known that I, JOHN L ES LIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westerly,

in the county of Washington and 'State of- I and the present invention has for its objects,

among others, to provide an improved device of this character for holding shoestrings on exhibition, and to provide for the yieldingretent-ion of the strings, and also to provide means for holding the spring-arm out of the way while the holder is being refilled with the laces.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will hereinafter appear, and the novelfeatures thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,with the letters of referencejmarked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved exhibitor in position to be filled with the strings. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in the position they assume when the holder is partially filled with strings, which latter are omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the parts in substantially the same position as in Fig. 2, with the strings in place therein.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of thedrawings by letter, A designates a piece of material, preferably wire, having one end bent to form an eye or loop a or the like adapted to receive a screw or other securing device a, by which it may be affixed to a wall or any desired support. This wire is formed between its' ends with a coil a and the free end of the wire is then bent into a substantially semicircle, as at 61. and the extreme free end extended substantially horizontally for a short distance, as seen at a forminga means for engagement with the other half of the holding-ring, as will be hereinafter explained. B is another wire or piece of materialformed with the coilsb at a point in proximityto the upperend of the wire A, as shown, to give sufficient spring to the arm I), which normally extends downward at an angle, as seen in Fig. 2, and within the loop formed by the upper and lower halves of the holdingring. The free end of the springarm is shown as provided with a loop or ring 12 tov 'in the same'plane as the semicircle (t -0f the wire A, thus forming the lower half of the supporting-ring. The Wire B is formed at a point opposite the coil 0. of the wire A with a similar coil b, as shown, and at its extreme end Wibh'fi. horizontally-extending portion 17 in line with and serving the same purpose as the horizontal portion a on the semicircle a C is a Wire bent into the shape shown and comprising a cross portion 0, which is engaged loosely in the coils or loops a and b as-shown, and the parallel portions 0 disposed oppositely to the portions a and b of the lower portion of the holding-ring, but in the same vertical planes therewith. The free ends of the said portions 0 are provided with eyes or the, like a to receive the horizontal portions'of the lower partsof the ring,-as seen in Fig; 2.

' D is a pin with an arm 01*, which arm is employed for holding the spring-arm in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 while the device is being filled with the strings, at the same time holding up the wire 0;

The mode of use is as follows: The springarm I) is forced down into the position in which itis seenin Fig. 1 and the wire 0 turned upward into the position seen in said figure, and then the pin D is inserted through the loopsct and b on top of the spring-arm, and the arm d of the pin D, bearing on the loop 0, serves to hold the latter up out of the way while the device is being filled with the strings. After the strings are placed in position the wire 0 is turned down and its loops or eyes engaged with the horizontal portions of the lower portion of the holding-ring, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The pin D is then withdrawn, and the spring-arm, being unrestrained, springs u-pward with ayielding pressure against the under side of the strings, as seen in Fig. 3, and, while allowing of the easy withdrawal of any string or strings, holds them against accidental displacement. As the strings are withdrawn the spring-arm immediately adapts itself to the remaining strings, so that no matter whether there are a few or a great many in the holder they will always be held with suflicient pressure to prevent accidental displacement.

It is evident that the rlevice'may be employed for the exhibition of other articles than shoelaces and that changes and modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Vhat is claimed as new is 1. A merchandise-exhibitor comprising an attaching portion, a two-part separable holding-ring, and a spring-arm integral with one portion of said ring movable at right angles to the axis of said ring, as set forth.

2. A merchandise-exhibitor, comprising an attaching portion having a semicircular holding portion, an oppositely-disposed semicircular portion pivotally mounted with relation thereto, and a spring-arm integral with one of said semicircular portions, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A merchandise-exhibitor, comprising an attaching portion, with curved terminals, a hinged portion above the latter, and a spring-arm having integral coils and movable through the holding-ring formed by the said terminals, and means interlocking with each other for detachablyconnecting the free ends of the said terminals and hinged portion.

4. A merchandise-exhibitor comprising an attaching portion, a separable holding-ring, a spring-arm, and a pin for holding the said arm while filling the holder, as set forth.

5. A merchandise-exhibitor comprising an attaching portion, a two-part holding-ring, one part of which is movable with relation to the other, means for holding the two parts in their closed position, a spring-arm disposed to move within the holding-ring, and means for holding the movable part open while filling the holder, as set forth.

6. The herein-described merchandise-exhibitor consisting of a piece of wire bent to form an attaching-eye and a semicircle, a wire bent to form a semicircle and a spring-arm with coils, and a wire having a cross portion movably held by the other wires and having means for detachable engagement with the said semicircles, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. LESLIE.

\Vitnesses:

ALEXANDER FERGUSON, J. ALONZO BABCOCK. 

